fionac326's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
soph_kendall's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
skybalon's review against another edition
3.0
A different take on the Dystopian future genre that just barely was able to hold my interest. The author deserves respect for a ton of stuff going on but ultimately that means there are way to many big themes going on to ever be satisfactorily resolved. Unlikely that I will continue with the series.
fabulousdave's review against another edition
5.0
A real masterpiece. Beautiful, bewildering, haunting, just an incredible book from start to finish. I still like what the movie did to interpolate the novel but I'm so glad that both versions of this story exist.
jameshaus's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up on a sale at Powell's, so I had no idea what to expect really. I was pleasantly surprised by the prose and the story though. It starts weird and gets weirder. It reminds me of House of Leaves and the game Myst, in part. The world-building, the body horror, the mystery are all gripping enough to keep the pages turning at a steady pace. It's a little short on answers, but heavy on weird and atmosphere and interesting characters. I'm certainly invested enough to add the next two in the trilogy to my list. I think a lot of my overall review will hinge on where the story goes from here, but given the quality of the first volume I'm optimistic.
Recommended.
Recommended.
yourbestfriendslibrary's review against another edition
5.0
Trippy, creepy, suspenseful.
I have truly never read something quite like this.
This little sci-fi fantasy novella was absolutely captivating. Jeff VanderMeer writes in such a way that immediately brings the reader into Area X with the research team. I felt fully immersed in this experience, desperate to learn more about Area X. If I could compare this book to any media I’ve consumed before, I would say that the atmosphere and mystery of this books reminds me of the show Lost.
I found this book to be flawless. I wouldn’t change a thing.
If this synopsis intrigues you ⤵️, PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. As for me, I’ll definitely be continuing on with this trilogy.
Synopsis: Area X has been cut off from the rest of the world for decades. Nature has reclaimed the last vestiges of human civilization. The first expedition returned with reports of pristine, arsenic landscape; the second expedition ended in mass suicide, the third in a hail of gunfire as its members turned on one another. The members of the eleventh expedition returned as shadows of their former selves, and within weeks, all had died of cancer. In Annihilation, the first volume of Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy, we join the twelfth expedition.
The group is made up of four women: an anthropologist; a surveyor; a psychologist, the de facto leader; and our narrator, a biologist. Their mission is to map the terrain, record all observations of their surroundings and of one another, and above all, avoid being contaminated by Area X itself.
They arrive expecting the unexpected, and Area X delivers — but it’s the surprises that came across the border with them and the secrets the expedition members are keeping from one another that change everything.
So, you gonna read it?
I have truly never read something quite like this.
This little sci-fi fantasy novella was absolutely captivating. Jeff VanderMeer writes in such a way that immediately brings the reader into Area X with the research team. I felt fully immersed in this experience, desperate to learn more about Area X. If I could compare this book to any media I’ve consumed before, I would say that the atmosphere and mystery of this books reminds me of the show Lost.
I found this book to be flawless. I wouldn’t change a thing.
If this synopsis intrigues you ⤵️, PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. As for me, I’ll definitely be continuing on with this trilogy.
Synopsis: Area X has been cut off from the rest of the world for decades. Nature has reclaimed the last vestiges of human civilization. The first expedition returned with reports of pristine, arsenic landscape; the second expedition ended in mass suicide, the third in a hail of gunfire as its members turned on one another. The members of the eleventh expedition returned as shadows of their former selves, and within weeks, all had died of cancer. In Annihilation, the first volume of Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy, we join the twelfth expedition.
The group is made up of four women: an anthropologist; a surveyor; a psychologist, the de facto leader; and our narrator, a biologist. Their mission is to map the terrain, record all observations of their surroundings and of one another, and above all, avoid being contaminated by Area X itself.
They arrive expecting the unexpected, and Area X delivers — but it’s the surprises that came across the border with them and the secrets the expedition members are keeping from one another that change everything.
So, you gonna read it?
redlotus_andjoy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
goodreadsspy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
girlbossclytemnestra's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25